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Swaroop Mukerji's Art

Mukerji has a natural gift for painting and has honed his skills over the years through hard practice and judicious experimentation.
With no formal education in the fine arts, he has a unique style of his own, not influenced by academia. Yet his sense of drawing, perspective and composition is immaculate.

Mukerji's works are always enhanced by a strong emotional content and a passion for the ordinary images that surround our lives.
He feels that an artist must personally experience the subject or the circumstances that contribute to his work. He, therefore, prefers to paint on location even if it means physical inconvenience.
It brings in an element of speed and spontaneity to his canvases, thereby, capturing the essence of his subject matter.
In this regard, he is greatly inspired by the French Impressionists who worked outdoors and demonstrated the brilliant effects of light through their palettes.

Mukerji handles watercolour, the most difficult of mediums, with effortless ease. He believes that the beauty and delicacy of this medium is not fully recognized and it deserves much greater popularity.
He also works in acrylic, pen and ink, conte and charcoal. He feels that all these media have their own charm and can be treated in new and innovative ways. That is the challenge before him.

Born in 1950, Swaroop Mukerji is a self taught artist who has painted from a very young age.
His exhibitions include:

Exhibitions

1993 Tollygunge Club, Calcutta

The paintings were very well received by the critics and what began as an absorbing hobby, turned into a serious professional alternative.

1994 The Oberoi Grand, Calcutta.

1997 Nehru Centre, High Commission of India, London

This exhibition was sponsored by the Indian High Commission in London and Lord and Lady Swraj Paul to celebrate 50 years of India's independence. Mukerji painted India House in London for High Commissioner Dr L.M Singhvi.

1998 The World Bank, Washington DC

This exhibition was sponsored by the World Bank/IMF India Club and the Embassy of India in Washington .It was a part of the country's golden jubilee celebrations.

1999 The India Heritage Center, Washington DC

The Gandhi Memorial Center, Embassy of India, Washington DC

2000 The Milan Festival, The Hague

2001 Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi

Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Kathmandu

Mukerji painted portraits of the late King Birendra and Queen Oisharya and these were presented to the royal couple by
the Indian Ambassador in Nepal.

India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

2003-04

Mukerji's works were included in the Delhi and Kolkata auctions conducted by Bowrings Auction House.

2005 The Rashtrapati Bhavan, Delhi

Mukerji painted a series on the Rashtrapati Bhavan and a solo exhibition was held at the bhavan for President Kalam
and other dignitaries. A part of the collection was sold to the bhavan. He was also commissioned to do a series on the
President's Bodyguard and the collection is displayed in their premises at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Harmony Show, Mumbai

Mukerji participated in Tina Ambani's Tenth Harmony Show at the World Trade Centre in Mumbai.

2006 The ITC Sonar, Kolkata

Mukerji's series on the Kolkata Rickshaw was exhibited and a book was released by Hutch on the occasion.

The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata

Mukerji painted various facets of the Kolkata Police and an art book was released by Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi on
the occasion of 150 years of the Kolkata Police.

2008 The ITC Sonar, Kolkata

Mukerji's series on Mumbai's Ganpathy Festival was previewed on 17th July.

The ITC Grand Maratha, Mumbai

Mukerji's series on Mumbai's Ganpathy Festival was exhibited on 30th August.

2010

Mukerji painted a series on the Calcutta Club for a book to be released in their Centenary Year.
Mukerji was invited by Watercolour New Zealand for a solo exhibition in Wellington.
Mukerji was commissioned to do twenty paintings for ITC ‘s Centenary Calendar 2011.
Mukerji was invited by Hongkong Tourism Board to do a series on the city for the Hongkong Festive Week in Delhi.
Mukerji was one of twelve Indian artists who worked on a series on Angkor Wat in Cambodia. This collection was exhibited nationally in 2011/12. A book was published on this pioneering work.

2011

Mukerji was invited by the City Council of Wellington , New Zealand and the Asia New Zealand Foundation to do a series on the
Indian Community living in the city for more than a hundred years. He had the rare privilege of painting the Governor General of
New Zealand who is of Indian origin. This collection was exhibited in Wellington during Diwali 2011 and, thereafter, in the New
Zealand Academy of Fine Arts

2012-13

Mukerji worked for two years on British monuments under the auspices of English Heritage , Ministry of Culture , UK
These twenty canvases were previewed in Kolkata recently and will be exhibited in London shortly.

What the critics say

"His choice of colours and manner of composition reflect variations and thus transcend plain illustrative art of the academic kind. Mukerji has the discerning eye to see the vitality beneath the squalor."

The Telegraph.

"Mukerji's paintings tend to delight rather than baffle or disturb. The mood is serene and contemplative, but below the deceptively temperate surface lies a strong element of drama."

India Today

"His drawing is compact, well-structured and charged with personal feeling."

The Economic Times.

"His portrayals are simply stunning in their vibrant colours and the artist's management of light and shade."

India Weekly, London.

"With what appears to be effortless ease he paints on location the many colours and hues of everyday life. The charm with which he celebrates the rhythms of everyday life is certainly a grand contribution and tribute to India."

Asian Fortune, Washington DC.

"Mukerji's watercolours radiate peace and tranquillity. Not simply because of the soft tones but also because of their themes. The hustle and bustle of the streets seem to have disappeared."

Haagse Courant The Hague

Mukerji's paintings can be found in numerous collections including those of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, The Nehru Centre, London, India House, London, The President's Bodyguard, The World Bank, The Oberoi Hotels, ITC Welcomgroup, HSBC, London and Lord and Lady Swraj Paul.

Swaroop Mukerji

Contact

For queries regarding buying the paintings, you can contact the artist by phone +91 98308 81354
or by email swaroopmukerji@gmail.com.

Deviant Gallery

Check out the artist's latest work on his DeviantArt Profile.
Swaroop Mukerji appreciates thoughtful critiques on his paintings.